



tKfie Eabiant Jlib 




Harriet Com£ftock ^toan 



An Allegory in Verse 

By Harriet Comstock Swan 



Cleveland, Ohio 

Printed for the Author 

1908 



LiBfiAHYof OUNGHESS 
Two Copies Sece;ved 

DEC 9 IS08 

i COPY O'^ 



Copyrighted, 1908 
by Harriet Comstock Swan 






HORACE CARR 
CLEVELAND 



i^ 



. To the memory of 

this little volume is dedicated by the author, 
who esteems it an honor to have had so emi- 
nent a critic and one so faithful and so kind, 
for the little allegory, which also owes to him 
its title. His kind encouragement to literary 
effort will ever remain a pleasant and stimu- 
lating memory. H. C. S. 



^^^^1^^. 




AY after day I sought her, that sweet friend, 
Whose presence should such strength and beauty 

lend 
To the drear pathway as I onward pressed 
That I should count myself supremely blest 
Could I behold her face. 

They told me I should find her in this path. 
"She will be found," said they, "by him who hath 
Endurance rare to walk the rugged way ; 
No other leads so surely to the day 
Of joyful recompense." 



At last I wearied ; on refreshment bent 
Turned I aside; my thoughts the while intent 
On her I sought. "I'll but a moment rest, 
And then go on till I fulfil my quest;" 
I said within my heart. 



I stood within a mossy dell, and lo ! 
Before my eyes a rippling stream did flow ! 
I slaked my thirst, and cooled my burning feet, 
Reclined upon the moss ; a languor sweet 
Stole o'er me as I lay. 



Scarce had I rested me a moment there 
When from the roadway came a voice of rare 
And deep significance, with meaning fraught. 
My heart within me stirred ! 'Twas she I sought 
Stood calling to me there ! 



**Come to me, fair one;" thus to her I cried, 
"Come, sit and rest a moment by my side, 
Dip thy fair hands into the purling stream, 
Let me gaze into thy sweet eyes and dream 
Of Life, and of Success." 



**I may not tarry," came her answer low; 

Up yonder hill my pathway leads. W^ilt go 
And climb its rocky steeps ? Full many a sigh 
Of weariness and pain between thee lie 
And yonder gleaming crest. 



W^hen once 'tis gained, broad valleys thou shalt see, 
Spreading their garments green to honor thee 
W^ho'st gained the proud ascent. The fragrant breeze 
Shall cool thy brow ; fresh, sparkling streams, green trees 
And flowers shall greet thee there. 



**A Company await thee — men of calm 
And noble mien ; and women with sweet balm 
For wounds received upon the way ; a song 
For him who counts not that the road's too long 
Which leads to Victory. 



* 'These, then, shall take thee by the hand, and lead 
Thee to a beauteous Place ; and thou shalt read 
One word which shines above its portals fair; 
It is the answer to thy fervent prayer. 

Thou shalt read it thus: Achievement! 



''What lies beyond those portals, 'tis for thee 
To picture. This th' incentive; this, the key 
To all thy strong endeavors ; this, the beam 
W^hich brightens all thy path, though dark it seem, 
For it is thy Desire.' ' 



Entranced I listened to her gentle voice. 
The journey's end — that made my heart rejoice. 
But, ah ! the weary, toilsome, tortuous way ! 
** Friend," I implored her, **give me but to-day 
To rest me in this dell. 



10 



By the sharp stones, hot ' neath the glowing sun 
Already blistered are my feet ; I' 11 run 
The better on the morrow. Stay, I pray ! 
What matter if I linger but one day 
Ere I my journey take ? ' ' 



Her smiling eyes grew grave. "I may not stay. 
Gird up thy loins ! Fresh courage take ! To-day 
V 11 guide thee if thou wilt, for on the morrow 
Thou'lt find, if thou remain, 'tis to thy sorrow. 
Come now ! If not — farewell ! * ' 



11 



Slowly she turned with backward glance at me. 
Aghast, I watched with throbbing heart to see 
If still, perchance, she might somewhat relent, 
But onward, swiftly, noiselessly she went, 
While Sloth bade me remain. 



Oh ! heart of mine ! Why listened I to these — 
False Vanity, bold Self-Conceit ! With ease 
And pleasure tempted they my wavering will. 
And bade my higher thoughts and aims be still 
Or wait another day. 



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** Surely she will return," I murmured then, 
Though I but half believed it ; and again 
I turned me from the heat of arduous toil. 
Nor dreamed I that my indolence would foil 
My aspirations high. 



One day, a week, a month — I counted not 
The days I lingered in that lovely spot ; 
Till one fair morn I gazed upon the rill 
And saw 'twas dying, and my heart stood still 
With apprehension chill. 



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**The waters fail! W^here shall I quench my thirst?" 
From whitening lips fierce self-revilings burst. 
**Fool! Thy proud insolence has cost thee dear; 
Thy friend is gone. Thy pleasures disappear 
'Neath the sun's scorching rays." 



^A^ith trepidation my belated feet 
Turned to the highway. Ah ! the waters sweet 
Which lay beyond the hill ! With all my strength 
I'd run, or climb, or toil, if I at length 
Might reach that favored spot. 



14 



The sun beat fiercely down upon my head, 
I groaned in weariness as my slow tread 
Behind me left red blood-stains — my poor feet 
Had grown so tender in th' accursed retreat, 
I stumbled blindly on. 



Huge boulders, rough, closed up the narrow way. 
O'er which when I had clambered, half the day 
Was spent. Before me stretched a chasm wide ; 
So narrow was the path along its side 
My soul shrank back in fear. 



15 



But I must onward press. In grim despair 
I slowly crept. Scarce was there foothold there. 
Twice had my feet well-nigh slipped o'er the brink, 
In th' foul muck below to plunge and sink ; 
I sickened at the thought. 



In agony of joy at last I came 
To a green highland where my weary frame 
Exhausted sank upon the sward, and tears 
Of vain regret did overflow; and fears 
Besieged, as twilight fell. 



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MiHiflMr-'li'-MiKirin— iliiirJT-' III II 



Frantic, I rose and hastened on a way, 
Then stopped in consternation ! W^ho could say 
Which was the path that I should choose ? Not one 
A hundred paths led upward ; and the sun 
Had run his course at last. 



I wist not which to take. At last I chose 
At random ; and at first it gently rose 
Above the plain, but soon the cruel stones 
Had cut my tender flesh e'en to the bones. 
I groaned at every step. 



17 



And now a sheer wall rose before my face, 
And of the pathway I could find no trace. 
Despairingly I sank upon the ground 
As one on whom mankind and nature frowned, 
Bewailing my sad lot. 



Wringing my hands I raised my tear-dimmed eyes 
To overhanging crag and leaden skies. 
No way ! No guide ! Great drops stood on my brow. 
In vain I cried, *'lf I could find her now 
Whose kindness once I spurned ! * ' 



18 



The rocks which hemmed me in flung back my cry 
Of anguish, as again I raised on high 
My voice, imploring, though no answer came, 
Knowing, and calling her at last by name, 
Oh, Opportunity ! 



**Lost! Lost! Lost!" was my wail. The mountain's side 
Took up my cry, — seemingly to deride 
My hopeless case ! Was it so hopeless then ? 
Might God to me extend his mercy, when 
rd so presumptuous been? 



19 



Trembling, ashamed, but brought to bay at last. 
Recalling some sweet teaching of the past, 
In deep humility my soul bowed low. 
"Be gracious to me. Lord, ere I must go 
To meet Thee face to face. 



**I have been foolish, indolent, oh Lord, 
So self-sufficient — I can find no word 
To fitly tell my selfish wilfulness. 
Oh, Christ, in pity witness my distress ! 
I'm vanquished ! See ! I yield ! ' ' 



20 



Scarce uttered were the words when there took place 
Within my heart a subtle change, my face 
With thankful tears was bathed; though dark the night, 
The torment of my fears had vanished quite ; 
I raised my eyes to see. 



What could have wrought this miracle of grace ? 
And, lo! Before me stood One in Whose face 
Such love, compassionate and tender shone, 
I knew 'twas He who left His Father' s throne 
To ransom my poor soul. 



21 



'* Child, thou in thine extremity hast turned 
To Him who over thy proud heart hath yearned. 
Thou'st missed thine opportunity; but mine 
Has come at last, and up the steep incline 
I'll bear thee safely on. 



"Not to the place of which thou'st fondly dreamed, 
Of lofty eminence. When thou hast leaned 
Upon my breast and learned just to be still 
And gain the conquest of thy stubborn will 
By yielding it to me 



22 



■ <^in ai— ■— 1 I ■ nxnl— ifc 



**Thou'lt see that Vict'ry comes but through the gate 
Of full, complete Surrender. Cans't thou wait 
To see the blessings I've in store for thee ? 
Dost know, my child, this opportunity 
Surpasses far the other? 



**A glory far excelling earthly fame 
Is kept for him who humbly bears my name. 
This shalt thou learn, first, sitting at my feet, 
Then, going forth to render service sweet 
To those less fortunate." 



23 



Thus spake the Christ! His pierced hand was laid 
In blessing on my head. No more afraid 
But with a heart His tenderness had broken 
I knelt, and in His kiss received the token 
That I v/as His for aye. 



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